thanks phil--
your message just reminded me of some confusing terminology
that may need clarification along the way.
i'm probaly not clarifing much in this message.
i won't fully explore the possibilities, but, may give some of
those interested in cell biology something to be aware of...
"test tube baby"
usually used to describe in vitro fertilized eggs
which are then transferred to a mother's uterus
to grow full term
without a mother they wouldn't be able to develop properly
the test tube stay is just days
beyond a certain point
the few cells of the "embryo" become a "tissue culture"
of "stem cells" if caught at the right stage
this is the fate of "excess embryos" typically generated
by the in vitro fertilization process
if not left frozen indefinitely
or discarded.
possibly there needs to be a different word for this
stage of a cell mass--"test tube embryo"--i don't know...
it will never really be a baby
with a fully diverse and developed form
"clone"
this word gets kicked around nowadays
and has many meanings.
strictly speaking --
in tissue culture practice
it refers to cultures that originate from one cell
or to tissues that arose from one cell
there were dfferent ways of isolating one cell
in oncocytogenetics
we used to characterize neoplasia chromosome complements
to follow the evolution of a tumor through time
as it changed and mutated into new tumors
what i just said
gives you no clue
to the human suffering
that preceeded each new tissue sample
"clone" also refers to some sci fi stuff
that the general public thinks of first
not the cells under a microscope
that will never remotely resemble a human being
in another context,
it may refer to just another technique of
produceing an in vitro "test tube baby"
which is little different from
what has been going on for years
"Therapeutic Cloning" a catch all phrase/
ray
ps
is the bottom line--
about respect for human life,
and with that,
trying to eradicate forms of suffering?
the terminology chosen can be critical
to forms of understanding and communication
choose
wisely
i've got to go now
this is the tip of an iceberg to me
Phil Tompkins wrote:
>
> Some recent news articles and TV reports about stem cell
> research will be confusing to members of the public who haven't
> been following the subject closely, and will likely result in
> uninformed opinions about the source of embryonic stem cells and
> the legitimacy of the research. Like so much of the fleeting sound
> bites that pass for "news", there is a focus on controversy so as to
> get reader or audience attention, but essential background and
> clarifying facts are omitted, leaving much to the imagination.
>
Ray Strand
Prairie Sky Design
-----------------( on the Edge of the Prairie Abyss )---------------
when the sky is clear
the ground is visible
49/dx PD 2 yrs/40? onset/retired
